Peters



ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) T s Sheets-Sheet 1. W. B. ATKINSON,

COMBINATION LOCK.

Patented May 8, 1883.

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WITNESSES: fiat MM N. m Fhotblilhngnpher, Washingmn. QC.

(No m odel.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. B. ATKINSON.

COMBINATION LOOK. No. 277,188. v Patented May 8,1883.

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- 9 iami ATTORNEYS.

INVENTOR (No Model.) 3 Sheefs--Sheet 3.

W; B.'ATKINSON.

COMBINATION LOCK.

No. 277,188. Patented May 8,1883.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

. knobs.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. ATKINSON, OF FRANKLIN, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN H. FOSTER, OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINATION-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,188, dated May 8, 1883.

Application filed October 14, 1882. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. ATKIN- SON, of Franklin, in the county of Simpson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combination- Locks, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming part of this specification. v

This invention consists of a combinationlock having a ward-wheel in engagement with each side of the bolt, and means for controlling the operation of the tumbler in rotating the ward-wheels and moving the bolt, and means for converting the bolt into a springbolt at will, as hereinafter particularly described.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the lock with the cap-plate and one of the ward-wheels removed. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the bolt removed from the casing. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the look through the knobs and knob-spindle, showing a portion of a door. Fig. 4 is a section on line 00 a: of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an end view of one of the Fig. 6 is an edge view of the tumbler and ward-wheels, and Fig. 7 is an elevation of the indicator.

A represents the casing of the lock, which is to have .tubular projections B in opposite sides thereof, to serve as stationary axles for the two ward-wheels O 0. Through the said tubular projections is to pass a sleeve, D, having longitudinal ribs E on its outer surface, as shown in Fig. at, and carrying the tumbler F, which is rigidly secured thereto at the center. Over the ends of this sleeve pass the hollow shanks of the knobs G G, which are grooved longitudinally on their inner surface, in order that the ribs E may engage therewith to form a longitudinal sliding joint. The

knobs are connected to each other positively by means of a spindle, I, formed in two parts, one of which is provided with a male screw connecting with a female screw in the end of the other part. The outer ends of this spindle are provided with disks H, which are loosely set in circular openings in the faces of the knobs, and are adapted to be rotated to screw up or unscrew the parts of the spindle by means of finger-pieces I. The sleeve D is provided with slots cl nearits ends, with which screws d in theshanksof the knobs are adapted to engage. By operating the two parts of the spindle I the screws (1 may be moved to 5 the inner ends of the slots d, as shown in Fig. 3, to hold the tumbler F at the center of the bolt, and by a reverse operation the screws may be thrown to the outer ends of said slots to form a rigid connection between the knobs and sleeve D, and to provide for a longitudinal play of said sleeve, whereby the tumbler may be moved to either side of the lock into engagement with the ward-wheels.

The tumbler F consists of a clutch, J, having 6 aprojection,J extending radially from its periphery, whereby it may be made to serve two purposes. By giving a longitudinal movement to the sleeve D through the knobs and their connecting-spindle, the clutch J may be moved into or out of engagement with either of the clutches K on the hubs of the wardwheels 0 0, whereby said wheels may be rotated to any desired position, and by moving the tumbler to the center of the lock it may 7 be made to operate the bolt L. The boltL is made larger at its rear than at its forward end, and is chambered at the former to accommodate the tumbler, which is located therein, and is adapted to be moved from one side to the other to engage with the Ward-wheels, between which the bolt is adapted to slide. The surface of each ward-wheel that is adjacent to the bolt is provided with a-projection, M, which fits in a groove, N, in the side of the bolt, and is adapted to be rotated therein until it strikes astop, from the known position of which the proper movement of the wardwheel may be calculated. The grooves N, which are formed on a circle, are cut away in 0 front of the tumbler to provide sufiicient room for the latter when the bolt is withdrawn, and at the rear of the tumbler they are cut away in the formation of a central longitudinal slot, 0, in line with which the projec- 9 tions on the ward-wheels must be placed to allow the bolt to be moved longitudinal] y. In the same circle with the outer wall of each 2 A e r-mes groove N is provided a segmental rib, P, which serves as a bearing-surface for the projection on its corresponding ward-wheel with- I out obstructing the space necessary for the tumbler when the bolt is withdrawn. By turning the ward-wheels until the projections M are moved out of the grooves N in front of the tumbler, the projections will rest against the ribs 1 and prevent the bolt from being withdrawn from its keeper. In the upper part of the chamber accommodating the tumbier, in the plane of a central vertical section thereof, are two projections, Q, extending downward sufficiently to be reached respectively by opposite edges of the projection J on the tumbler, when the latteris moved to the center of the chamber in the bolt and rotated in the proper directions.

As already intimated, the grooves N are provided with stops R, against which the projections M on the ward-wheels will strike when the wheels are rotated, and from the known position of which the proper movement of the ward-wheels for bringing the projections M into line with the slot 0 may be calculated. These stops are made removable in order that their relative positions may be varied at will, and that no one but the owner of the lock may know their positions. To assist in calculat ing the proper movement of the ward-wheels, an indicator of their movement is provided on each side of the door, where it can be easily seen, or felt with the hand. This indicator consists of agear-wheel, S, secured to the ribbed sleeve 1), and which therefore turns whenever the ward-wheels are rotated, and a pinion, T, havin g laterally-projecting pins or heads U, which is suitably mounted in a case, V, having an opening, W, through which only one of the heads can be entirely seen or felt at a time. The appearance of a number of heads in succession, due to the rotation of' the pinion T, corresponds to a given distance measured in the grooves N. Consequently the stops B may be so adjusted in the grooves that a given number of heads U, passing in succession into view, will indicate exactly when the projections M on the ward-wheels have come into line with the slot- 0 in their movement from contact with the said stops. it the stops are placed in that part of the grooves N above the slot 0, the proper movement of the projections M will be downward to the slot by a backward movement of the knob, and it they are placed below the slot they must be moved upward by a forward movement of the knob to reach the slot. If one stop is placed above and the other below the slot in their respective grooves, then the required movements of the two wheels will be the reverse of each other in direction, and will vary in extent according to the relative distances of the stops from the slot 0. It will thus be seen that provision is made for a practically unlimited variation of the combination of movements necessary for operating the lock, and that to oneinitiated into the secret of any particular combination the operation is simple and easy.

lVhen it is desired that the bolt L shall act as aspring-bolt,a pin, L,having a flat spring, M, inserted in. one end thereof, and provided with ascroll-shaped foot, N, is to be set in an opening formed therefor in the top of the case. To receive this pin and spring, the bolt L is provided with a vertical slot communicating with the horizontal slot 0, and a stop, P, having a beveled surface, up which the foot N of the spring may ride when the bolt is moved against the action of the spring. The bolt is likewise provided with a vertical slot in its under side corresponding to the slot for the pin already described, and communicating with a horizontal slot, 0 formed underneath the slot 0. Thehorizontalslotsservetolighten the bolt of any excess of weight, while the two vertical slots and the general construction of the bolt, as above described, adapt the bolt for being reversed side for side or top for bottom.

To unlock the bolt L, unscrew the parts of the knob-spindle by means of the fingerpieces 1 until sufficient longitudinal play may be given to the sleeve D by means of the knobs to enable the clutch of the tumbler F to engage with either of the wardwheel clutches K. Then place the clutch of the tumbler in engagement first, with one and then with the other of the clutches K, and turn the knob forward until, the projection M on the ward-wheel strikes the stop R. We are supposing now that the stops R are placed above the slot 0, as shown in the drawings. Now, if we suppose the stops R are sufiiciently remote from the slot 0 to require the successive appearance of five and two heads U in the indicator, respectively, in the movement of the projections M from contact with said stops to a position in line with the-slot O,then,

after turning the ward-wheels until the projections M strike the stops, reverse the movements of the ward-Wheels until five and two heads, respectively, have been counted on the indicator. The projections M will then be in line with the slot 0. Now screw up the parts of the knob-spindle to their normal position, and this will bring the tumbler to the center of the chamber in the bolt, where it will en gage with the rearmost projection, Q, when the knob is turned backward, and thus withdraw the bolt.

I may also provide slots in the ribs P and close them with removable pln gs I, which may be changed therefrom to the slot 0 at will to vary the combination of necessary movements.

Having thus described my invention,whatI IIO claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. The combination of a chambered bolt having a longitudinal slot therein, a knob-spindle having a tumbler arranged in the chamber-of the bolt, and one or more ward-wheels having projections adapted to be set in alignmentwith the said slot to allow the bolt to be moved, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of a chambered bolt havin g grooves of segmental form in its sides, com municat-ing with a longitudinal slot, a knobspindle having a tumbler arranged in the chamber of the boltand provided with a clutch, and one or more ward-wheels having projections adapted to move through the grooves, and clutches to engage with the clutch of the tumbler, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination ofa chambered bolt having grooves of segmental form in its sides, communicating with a longitudinal slot or slots, and having movable stops secured in the grooves, a knob-spindle having a tumbler arranged in the chamber of the bolt and provided with a clutch, and ward-wheels having projections adapted to move through the slots to and from contact with the stops, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination, with the chambered bolt, the ward-wheels arranged at the sides of the bolt and having projections adapted to be moved through segmental slots therein, engaging therewith, and thetumbler arranged in the chamber of the bolt, of a knob-spindle. adapted to be adjusted longitudinally to enable the clutches on the tumbler to engage ward-wheels and the adjustable tumbler, hav-.

ing clutches adapted to operate the wheels, of

the indicator geared with the spindle carrying the tumbler, and adapted to register the movements of the wardwheels, substantially as shown and described.

v7. The combination, with the bolt, slotted vertically, and having a stop, as described, and the casing having an opening in its top, of the pin havinga spring in one end, which is inserted from without into' theslot in the bolt, substantially as shown and described,

WILLIAM BROWNLOW ATKINSON.

Witnesses:

W. M. GORIN, A. T. BRADLEY. 

